Loki 1893 Review: A timely return provides glorious purpose

After an all-over-the-place 2nd episode, 1893 is a welcome return to form for Loki.

1893 keeps the focus on one storyline and setting. The tighter handle on the story offers Jonathan Majors another chance to showcase his incredible presence as Victor Timely. Majors sinks his teeth into this very different variant of Kang. Timely is obsessed with time. He had grand ideas, but the technology in the late 1800s couldn’t execute his ideas. In many ways, Timely is a good albeit neurotic scientist, but he’s not evil.

Adding to the chaos in 1893 are the season debuts of Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Miss Minutes. The latter recruits Renslayer to 1869 Chicago to set Timely on his path before jumping ahead a couple of decades. The two seem to form a love triangle with Timely, but the partnership goes sour.

Meanwhile, Loki and Mobius are also in 1893. They aim to find Miss Minutes and convince her to fix the TVA. Once Loki catches up with Timely, Sylvie joins the fray to complete her vendetta.

Owen Wilson continues to shine with every line of dialogue. Loki’s fear of Timely juxtaposed with Mobius’s amused reaction to the stuttering Timely adds another layer to their dynamic.

1893 is a terrific episode of Loki. However, there are still issues with tone. A few characters try to chase Timely down that don’t mesh with what should be a profound moment. The ragtag music score is neat initially but undercuts action sequences in the process. Loki also fades into the background.

Overall, the presence of Majors, terrific production design in recreating 1893 Chicago and Miss Minutes becoming utterly terrifying makes 1893 an intense episode of Loki.

1893 Review Score: 8

Great

With the overview finished, let’s dive deeper into the three standout elements in 1893. There will be some spoilers. Loki is streaming on Disney Plus.

Welcome to 1893

1893 Chicago receives a new life in Loki. The pairings of Loki and Mobius, Renslayer and Miss Minutes all arrive at the Chicago World Fair. Loki and Mobius are looking for Miss Minutes. Renslayer and Miss Minutes are looking for Timely.

All four end up in the exact location. If you’re wondering how a cartoon clock goes unnoticed, don’t worry; there are ghost sightings of a white clock around Chicago. Miss Minutes changes her color from orange to white. Mobius and Loki overhear a boy reading from a newspaper about the ghost sighting, letting them know they’re on the right track.

They eventually arrive at a demonstration. Timely is presenting a time loom prototype to an audience. Loki is mortified at the spitting image of He Who Remains. Timely amuses Mobius. Renslayer is unimpressed. Only Miss Minutes seems undeterred by this variant. She unravels later in the episode.

Timely differs from Kang in Ant-Man 3 and He Who Remains in season one of Loki. However, he doesn’t seem that interested in sharing power or glory. Whenever a character suggests becoming partners with Timely, he reacts with disgust. Majors is just fantastic. Who knows how his legal battles will play out, but 1893 further proves Majors’s incredible talent.

Untimely Problems

Timely is eventually chased by four groups. Loki and Mobius are after him so he can help fix the TVA. Miss Minutes and Renslayer want Timely to take He Who Remains’s place. Sylvie wants to kill him after vowing to snuff out all of Kang’s variants. Finally, a group of mobsters is unhappy with the prototype Timely sold them.

Loki catches up to Timely, but Sylvie appears before he can finish convincing Timely to come to the TVA. Hellbent on killing Timely, Loki is forced to protect him. Eventually, there’s an explosion that allows Timely to hide. The central conflict ends up being between Renslayer, Miss Minutes and Timely. However, the trio escapes while the other groups chase them.

They commandeer a row boat from a steamship. Renslayer reveals she gave Timely the TVA guidebook, which inspired Timely’s ideas for manipulating time. Miss Minutes becomes more perturbed as the conversation goes along. She’s the one who gave the guidebook to Renslayer. Before the dynamic between Renslayer and Timely becomes romantic, Renslayer makes a mistake. She says she’s looking forward to her partnership with Timely. Renslayer doesn’t see it, but the disgust on Timely’s face is apparent. He and Miss Minutes abandon her at sea.

Timely’s women problem is finished yet. Miss Minutes reveals how she was designed to do anything, but occupy a body. Timely deflects by claiming he’s not the same guy as He Who Remains. Miss Minutes then wonders if she is in the TVA guidebook. Timely replies not yet, which drives Miss Minutes over the edge. She charges at him, but Timely can use MIss Minutes Tem-Pad to trap her.

Renslayer’s Reckoning

Timely’s women problem still isn’t finished. Renslayer returns with a prototype purging rod. Loki and Mobius arrive. Mobius tries to talk her down. Renslayer is fed up with making sacrifices for the TVA over her desires.

Sylvie projects into the room, knocking everyone down in the process. With her blade at his throat, Timely begs for his life. Sylvie finally relents. She lets Loki and Mobius take Timely to the TVA. However, she requests they leave Renslayer with her.

Sylvie’s act of revenge isn’t a killing blow. She opens a portal to the End of Time and kicks Renslayer through it. Now, Renslayer will finally sit next to the person who gives her life meaning, albeit a dead one. Miss Minutes reemerges at the End of Time and begins to tell Renslayer a secret that will anger her.

1893 final thoughts

1893 is a strong episode of Loki that provides plenty of room for Majors as Timely. The episode also shines in, providing more of an indication of where this season is heading. If the 2nd season can figure out how to balance the tonal shifts, it could rival season one.